Pig Facts Pig Facts Tweet Fascinating Fun Facts About Pigs Pigs are omnivores (eat both plants and meat), they are also highly social and intelligent animals. With around 1 billion pigs alive at any time, the domesticated pig is one of the most numerous large mammals on the planet. The ancestor of the domesticated pig is the wild boar, which is also one of the most numerous and widespread large mammals in nature. Adult domestic pigs can weigh between 50 and 350 kg (110 and 770 lb). Domestic pigs will seek the company of each other and often will huddle to maintain physical contact with each other. Domestic pigs are also very intelligent and can be trained to perform numerous tasks and tricks. * Baby pigs appear very greedy when they are competing for food from their mothers. For this reason the words “pig” and “hog” have become associated with greedy behavior. * Pigs have a well developed sense of smell. They can find things underground and have been used to find truffles, a French delicacy, or to sniff out drugs in service to policemen. * Soldier pigs have gone to war. On battlefields, they have used their sensitive snouts as mine sniffers.

* A mature pig has 44 teeth. The canine teeth, called tusks, grow continuously and are sharpened by the lowers and uppers rubbing against each other.

* Scientists believe that pigs are one of the most intelligent animals, ranking close behind apes and dolphins * China has the world's largest population of domestic pigs * The average sow gives birth to 8 to 12 pigs at a time * An average pig eats five pounds of feed each day, or a ton of food every year * A pig's squeal can be as loud as 115 decibels, 3 decibels higher than the sound of a supersonic airliner * An average American consumes 51 lbs of pork each year * Pigs do not have sweat glands and pale pigs risk sunburn, hence they roll in mud to keep themselves cool * A number of pigs together is called a herd * A piece of lead used in a ship's ballast is called a hog {googleAds} {/googleAds} * One of the smaller molds used for casting iron is called a hog Curling Hog * A curling rock that is not thrown far enough to get over the hog line, is called a hog * A pig raised for meat is called a hog * A broom for scraping the underside of a ship is called a hog Curling Hog * A large railway locomotive is called a hog * A Harley Davidson motorcycle is

 called a hog * In the UK, a sixpenny coin was called a hog * Pork is the world's most widely-eaten meat * In Denmark there are twice as many pigs as people * There are approximately 840 million hogs on farms throughout the world * On average, pigs live for about 15 yearsMiss Piggy * The largest pig on record was a Poland-China hog named Big Bill, who weighed 2,552 lbs [1157.4 kg] owned by Burford Butler of Jackson, Tennessee, USA in the year 1933 * Here is the feisty starlet girlfriend of Kermit the Frog from the Muppets - Miss Piggy * Pigs do not have functional sweat glands.

They use water or mud for the purpose of staying cool in hot weather * Pigs do not prefer to sit in mud. Infact, they prefer cleanliness much more than other animals. They use the mud only as a coolant in summers, that too out of necessity. * Mud also provides the pigs protection against flies and parasites, apart from being used as a form of sunscreen, which protects their skin from sunburn. * A female pig is called a sow, while the male is called boar. The baby of a pig is called piglet. * Pigs have such a well developed sense of smell that they can easily find things underground. * Many experts consider pigs to be more trainable than dogs or cats. * Even though pigs have four toes on each hoof, they walk on only two of the toes. This makes them look as if they are tiptoeing. * The largest litter of piglets ever born included 37 piglets, out of which 36 were born alive and 33 survived. * A full grown pig can drink up to 14 gallons of water a day. * Domesticated pigs are used as sources of food, leather and similar products.

* Pigs have four toes on each foot and each toe ends in a hoof. They only walk on the two middle toes on each foot so they look as if they are on their tiptoes. * Did you know a pig can run a 7-minute mile? * The Orgin of the Nickname Uncle Sam in the United States - Great Trivia Question During the War of 1812, a New York pork packer named Uncle Sam Wilson shipped a boatload of several hundred barrels of pork to U.S. troops. Each barrel was stamped "U.S." on the docks. The "U.S." stood for "Uncle Sam" whose shipment seemed large enough to feed the entire army. This is how "Uncle Sam" came to represent the U.S. Government. Source * The saying "living high on the hog" started among enlisted men in the U.S. Army who received shoulder and leg cuts of pork while officers received the top loin cuts. “Living high on the hog" came to mean living well.

* Have you ever heard the saying, "Don’t buy a pig in a poke?" In 17th century England, it was a common trick to try to give away a cat to an unsuspecting shopper buying a suckling (young) pig. When he opened the poke (sack), he "let the cat out of the bag," and found he had been cheated. Places named after the pig: Pigs 'N Truffles -The Seductive Appeal Of Chocolate | A Moment of Science - Indiana Public Media Photo: Keith Park (Flickr) Truffles produce a steroid that is also used by pigs to communicate their sexual availability. You probably already knew that truffles are a French culinary delicacy. But you may not have known that they’re also a fungus that grows deep in the ground, much like mushrooms. However, unlike mushrooms, truffles can be very hard to spot when roaming around in a field. Seek ‘em out Wilbur! So how do we find such French delicacies? Pigs. March a female pig out around an area where some truffles are growing and the pig will excitedly root them out for you. It’s because truffles produce a steroid called 5-alpha-androstenol.

The truffles likely produce this steroid for several reasons and sexual reproduction turns out to be one of them. Where Chocolate Gets It’s Seductive Appeal Pigs use exactly the same steroids to communicate their sexual availability to other pigs. It’s found in the male’s saliva, and makes the female all hot and bothered when she sniffs it. When you lead a sow over a field of truffles, she immediately goes searching for a male pig to mate with. In trying to locate the pig, she unearths the truffle! Share Frequently Asked Truffle Questions Frequently Asked Truffle Questions What are truffles? Truffles are hypogeous (underground) versions of mushrooms. They don't form a prominent stem and their spore-bearing surfaces are enclosed. They rely on animals eating them ( mycophagy ) to distribute their spores, instead of air currents like mushrooms. Truffles resemble small potatoes, and often between the size of a marble and a golf ball (see the photo gallery ). There are hundreds of different kinds of truffles, and while none are known to be poisonous, only a few of them are considered to be delicacies by humans.

Truffles (and mushrooms) are only the "fruit" of the fungus (like an apple to an apple tree); the main perennial fungal body exists as a web of filamentous hyphae in the soil. All of the truffle fungi form mycorrhizae with the roots of trees, and are essential to the trees' ability to acquire nutrients. The belowground fruiting habit of truffles is thought to be an adaptation to forest fires or dry or frosty periods, in which aboveground mushrooms are more vulnerable. Oregon State University Extension has published a nice overview of truffles available here, "An Oregon Garden Guide to Truffles." What is mycophagy? As most truffles never break the surface of the soil, they must rely on animals to eat them and distribute the spores in their scats. The word "mycophagy" comes from the Greek words "mykes" (fungus) + "phagein" (to eat). Some animals, like the red-backed vole, eat truffles almost exclusively. In order to be located by hungry critters, truffles have evolved strong scents that, as they mature, can be detected from a distance by a suitably sensitive nose.

Depending on the species of truffle, to humans these scents can be pungent, fruity, unpleasant, or delectable. What is mycorrhizae? Mycorrhizae is a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) association between some kinds of fungi and plants. The word "mycorrhizae" comes from the Greek words "mykes" (fungus) + "rhiza" (root). Fungal filaments (hyphae) are much more efficient at extracting water and nutrients from the soil than root hairs - it has been reported that there are as much as 100 meters of fungal hyphae in one teaspoon of healthy forest soil. The fungal hyphae not only permeate the soil, they penetrate the root cells of plants and facilitate a nutrient exchange where the host plant gets needed nutrients from the soil via the fungi, and the fungi (which cannot perform photosynthesis) get their needed sugars from the host plant. Many plants will not grow well at all unless they have mycorrhizal fungi on their roots helping them get nutrients. What is the role of truffles in ecosystems? Truffles (and mushrooms) are the "fruit" of underground webs of fungi.

The fungi of all truffles (and many mushrooms) are mycorrhizal . Mycorrhizae are essential in assisting trees obtain nutrients and water from the soil - without mycorrhizae we would not have forests as we know them today. Truffles are also an important part of the food chain via mycophagy . For example, flying squirrels rely on truffles for food, and spotted owls rely on squirrels for food. In turn, the fungi rely on the squirrels (and owls!) for spore distribution, the trees rely on the fungi for nutrient acquisition, the fungi rely on the trees for energy (sugars from photosynthesis), and the owls and squirrels rely on the trees for habitat. What are "True" vs. "False" truffles? In Europe, the term "truffle" in the very strictest ("true") sense has historically only referred to those hypogeous (belowground) fungi that were gourmet edibles , primarily in the genus Tuber. Tubers are members of a larger grouping of fungi called Ascomycetes .

For some folks, only Tubers and their close relatives are considered "true truffles" (all others being "false truffles"), and for other folks all hypogeous Ascomycetes (irrespective of culinary qualities) are called "true truffles". However, there are many, many other perfectly nice species of hypogeous fungi, both Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes , that are not particularly prized as food outside the squirrel community. Nowadays many folks have discarded the "true truffle" and "false truffle" distinctions for a more egalitarian nomenclature, and are quite comfortable simply calling all hypogeous fungi TRUFFLES. What are Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes? Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes are two major groups of fungi (like cats and dogs are two major groups of animals). Unlike cats and dogs, the distinction between Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes is based on microscopic characteristics, namely the manner in which the spores are produced. In Ascomycetes, the spores are produced inside of sock- or sac-shaped structures called asci .

In Basidiomycetes, the spores are produced on prongs on the outside of structures called basidia . As a general rule, Ascomycetes tend to have a brittle texture (such as Morels ), and hypogeous (belowground) Ascomycetes (eg. truffles) are frequently - but not always - hollow (such as Genea ). Basidiomycetes are fleshier in texture (all gilled mushrooms are Basidiomycetes), and the hypogeous Basidiomycetes tend to be squishy or spongy on the inside (such as Zelleromyces ). This key may help in distinguishing "asco's" from "basid's". There are two other groups: The Zygomycetes form their spores individually on specialized "suspensor cells" and contain one truffle-forming ectomycorrhizal genus, Endogone . The Glomeromycetes form their spores individually or in clusters at the ends of hyphae. Only one genus in this group forms truffles, Glomus . Are any truffles poisonous? No truffles are known to be poisonous to humans (but we don't know everything...).

This non-toxicity seems sensible, considering that truffles rely on small animals (via mycophagy ) to distribute their spores. That said, ALWAYS be absolutely sure of the identification of anything you are considering eating! Many poisonous Amanita and Cortinarius mushrooms start out as belowground " eggs " that can be dead-ringers for truffles at a glance. The Oregon white truffles that most folks around here are interested in eating ( Tuber gibbosum & T. oregonense ) are firm and brittle, will have a beige to smokey-colored marbled interior, and a pleasant earthy odor. Mushroom eggs (and many truffle species that are only appetizing to squirrels) are generally more squishy, spongy, or cartilaginous - always check every truffle you intend to eat, different species frequently intermix. Where are truffles found? Truffles can potentially be found almost anywhere there are trees. Only a few families of trees (such as maples and cedars) do not associate with truffle-forming fungi. Truffles fruit throughout the fall, winter, and spring, depending on species and locality.

They usually occur at the interface between the organic litter and the mineral soil, about one to six inches deep, but can emerge to the surface or be more than a foot deep. Evidence that small animals have been digging in an area recently is often a good indication that truffles may be about. For a detailed accounting of what kind of habitat a particular truffle species likes, and when it is likely to be found, see the Specific Habitats page. How are truffles found? In North America, truffles are found by raking the organic litter away with a 4-tine garden rake. Find suitable habitat (most any forested area; see above) and gently peel back the litter layer (remember to replace the litter when you are done and try to leave the area as you found it). Look for things that look like little potatoes, often beige, yellowish, or reddish brown (see the photo gallery) . If you find one it will be immediately apparent that it is not a dirt clod. Finding truffles takes a little luck and a lot of patience. Sometimes they just aren't there, but you never know until you look. In Europe, pigs and dogs have been used for centuries to help find truffles. Pigs vs.

dogs? The scents produced by truffles to encourage mycophagy sometimes attract animals that are larger than squirrels. Some truffles, including the gourmet edibles Italian perigord, French white, and Oregon white, produce a scent that mimics a male pig sex hormone. It is for this reason that female pigs have been used historically in Europe to help find truffles. More recently, dogs have become the preferred truffle hunting companion for several reasons, among them 1) Dogs can be trained to find, but not eat the truffles, and 2) Dogs are much easier to get into the back seat of a car. Truffle maturity and the market In the United States, we have not advanced to the point of using trained animals to help find truffles. This is unfortunate not only from an efficiency standpoint, but also a market reputation standpoint. The reason for this is that truffles only develop the aroma that attracts animals and excites chefs when they are fully mature. Thus, pigs and dogs will only indicate where mature truffles are. In North America where we humans (with our lousy noses) rake indiscriminately for truffles, we frequently get as many immature specimens as mature ones.

Commercial collectors often have incentive to sell all the truffles they find, whether they are mature or not. Immature truffles have little culinary value, as they have not yet developed the pungent aromas that chefs seek. The frequent presence of immature specimens in commercially available Oregon white truffles has diminished their reputation and value on the world market compared to their European counterparts. NATS offers occasional truffle dog training seminars in Corvallis, Oregon. Contact Marilyn Hinds for information. Below are some dog trainers who offer specialty courses in canine trufflehunting, in no particular order: Pacific Truffle Dogs offers truffle dog training courses in the Portland area. Umami Truffle Dogs offers truffle dog training courses in Veneta, west of Eugene. NW Truffle Dogs offers truffle dog training courses in the Portland area. Trifecta Training offers truffle dog training courses in the Eugene area. Toil and Truffle offers truffle dog training courses in the Seattle area. Pasqual Sricco offers truffle dog training courses in New Jersey, and sells truffle dog training videotapes.

The general principal is to start when the dog is young, and get them used to the scent of truffles by having them fetch a sock with mature truffles inside, and gradually work up to finding the hidden, then buried sock. Some folks have used a pungent cheese (like limburger) as a surrogate for mature truffles. Links to accounts of truffle dog training are below: Oregon white truffle (Tuber oregonense and T. gibbosum) Reasonably common in the Pacific Northwest from the west side of the Cascade mountains to the coast from British Columbia to northern California. Tuber oregonense is generally found from October through February. Its exterior perideum is whitish when young, developing orangish-brown tints as it matures, and finally becoming orangish-brown overall. Microscopically, it has a perideum of interwoven hyphae. Tuber gibbosum is usually found from February through June. Its exterior perideum begins whitish and becomes pale olive-brown as it matures. Microscopically the perideum is of inflated cells.

In both species, the texture is quite firm (not spongy), and the interior is white when immature becoming a marbled smokey brown as it matures. Both species seem to prefer young (15-40 year-old) Douglas-fir plantations. By February, most of the Tuber oregonense should be pretty mature and the T. gibbosum will just be getting started. Tom Volk has a nice Oregon white truffle website. You can also read more about both Oregon white and black truffles in this article . Oregon brown truffle (Kalapuya brunnea) The Oregon brown truffle was discovered by NATS members in the early 1990's and formally described in 2010. It grows in younger Douglas-fir forests in the Oregon Coast Range and western foothills of the Cascades. It has a reddish-brown exterior and a greyish mottled interior. When mature the odor can be quite garlicky.

Oregon black truffle (Leucangium carthusianum, formerly Picoa carthusiana) Less common than Oregon white truffles, Oregon blacks are larger (golf-ball to baseball size), and are often much deeper in the soil than Oregon whites (commonly 4-10" deep). They are very dark inside and out, and have a very pungent, earthy odor when ripe. Some equate the aroma to a strange mix of pineapple, port, mushrooms, rich soil, and chocolate. Looking like irregular lumps of coal, with white-veined flesh, the Oregon black truffle has a texture of moist Parmesan and ground almonds. French black (Perigord) truffle (Tuber melanosporum) Native to the oak forests of the Perigord region of central and southwest France, it is now widely cultivated in Spain, Australia, and the United States. The black perigord is among the most valuable of truffles at up to $1000/pound. It has a blue-black exterior when fresh, fading to brown-black with age and a pungent, earthy odor.

Italian white (Piedmont) truffle (Tuber magnatum) Considered by some (mostly the French) to be second best to the French black truffles, its cost can exceed that of the perigord. It is native to the foothills and mountains of northern and central Italy and southern Yugoslavia. They grow in conjuction with oak, hazel, poplar, and beech trees. The flesh is solid, light-coloured, and very brittle; it is not unheard of for a fresh truffle to shatter if dropped on the floor. Large specimens can weigh as much as a pound, but most are the size of large walnuts. The white truffle is slightly more perishable than its darker cousins, and the flavour and aroma diminishes within a week or two after harvest. The white truffle has a distinctive pepper edge and is often eaten raw. The skin is a dirty beige when fresh, turning a darker brown with age. More information can be found at this website. Burgundy, or Summer truffle (Tuber aestivum, formerly Tuber uncinatum) Native to France, Italy, and Spain, the summer truffles are usually at their best in July, but can be found from May to October.

They have a black exterior and off-white interior, and a relatively light scent. This truffle has been established on plantations in Sweden and New Zealand. Tuscan truffle (Tuber borchii, formerly Tuber albidum) Similar to the Italian white truffle in appearance, having a chestnut to muddy tan exterior and a softish interior equally divided between chocolate brown and white. The flavor can be distinctly garlicky. Pecan (Texas) truffle (Tuber lyonii, formerly Tuber texense) Pecan truffles (also called Texas truffles) are found from New Mexico to the gulf coast and eastern seaboard to the great lakes and eastern Canada. It is not limited to areas with pecan trees, but was named based on the habitat in which it was discovered. More information can be found at this University of Georgia website. Click here for a story about Pecan truffles from the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Island Packet, and click here for a story about Pecan truffles from the New York Times.

Chinese truffles (Tuber sinense, Tuber indicum, and Tuber himalayense) These are three distinct species found in southwest China, but pickers tend to lump them together as Chinese truffles. This is unfortunate since the flavor and quality vary from one species to another. First marketed in France in 1994, these truffles are now found in American restaurants at fairly reasonable prices, but their flavor and aroma do not come close to that of the French truffles, perhaps for the same reasons as Oregon white truffles ( too many immature specimens ). T. indicum is recognizable by its brown interior and very fine white veins. T. sinense has a dark brown interior with large ivory veins, and is said to be chewy and oily with a bitter aftertaste. Desert truffles (Terfezia boudieri, Terfezia pfielii, Terfezia claveryi, and others) Native to northern Africa and the Middle East, these truffles have been a staple for many nomadic tribes for millenia. Sometimes called the Lightning Truffle, they often fruit shortly after thunderstorms wet the desert. There is an account of desert truffle culture here . How are truffles cooked?

Truffles are generally used raw, or very lightly cooked, because the flavor compounds are highly volatile. Truffles go very well with brie cheese (doesn't everything?). NATS has compiled a cookbook of truffle recipes , a few of which are posted on the Recipes page . Below are some links to other truffle recipe websites: How do I store truffles? Truffles can be stored for several days in a paper bag (never in plastic!) in the refrigerator. They can be frozen for several months in a glass jar. They can be immersed in olive oil, and the oil will absorb the flavor, however shelf life at room temperature is limited without pasteurization. Some folks store truffles in dry white rice, but this is not recommended as the rice will tend to draw the moisture and aroma away from the truffles, diffusing and diluting the aroma. Ideally, truffles should be used as fresh as possible, unless you are in the enviable situation of having too many! I found a truffle. What is it? What? You don't have your very own copy of the NATS Field Guide to Selected North American Truffles and Truffle-like Fungi ? You can get one here !

Alternatively, you can mail specimens to the Trufflemaster for identification. Truffles should be dried thoroughly before mailing (see below). For more infomation on sending truffles for identification click here . Include your email address, collection location and habitat data, and any notes about unique fresh characteristics (odor, staining reactions, etc.). How do I dry truffles? Truffles should be dried before sending to the Trufflemaster for identification, but not if you intend to eat them. Fresh truffles sent through the mail often arrive as an unrecognizable furry odiferous lump - not a good thing! Ideally, truffles to be mailed for identification should be dried on a regular food dehydrator. If you don't have a dehydrator, leave them in the fridge in a loosely closed paper bag for about 3 days, this will dry them quite well (Caution: This may impart a truffle flavor all other foods in the refrigerator!). Truffles dry a lot faster if they are cut in half first. For more information on sending truffles for identification click here . What about truffle farming? Businesses that sell trees inoculated with truffle mycorrhiza can easily be found on the internet.

Results are not guaranteed and can take years. It is a good idea to get sample trees assessed for root colonization by an independent lab (such as MycoRoots ). How To Teach Your Dog to Hunt for Truffles By: Donna Ryan - at August 13, 2013 How To Teach Your Dog to Hunt for Truffles Although they look rather like contorted potatoes, truffles are a well-revered delicacy. Indeed, connoisseurs of the food find that its flavor easily trumps its appearance when it is added to soups and sauces as well as a variety of entrees. In fact, truffles are so prized for their earthy and savory taste that they can cost as much as $2,000. Rare varieties are priced at over ten times that amount. For example, an Italian white Piedmont truffle can cost in the neighborhood of $30,000. Where Truffles Grow in the World While many truffles are harvested in Italy and France, they also are found in wooded areas in the U.S., the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Western Australia. Besides the Italian white truffle, the black truffle from France is also noted for its distinctive taste and tang.

To maintain the integrity of the delicacy, trained dogs or pigs are used to scent out the fungus. Trained Dog Hunting Truffles With Master In the U.S., the state of Oregon is a well-known source for truffles, where they can be worth as much as $150 per pound. The truffles in this area grow below-ground among Douglas firs. Texas is home to truffles as well, with the Tuber texensis being the truffle of choice in the Lone Star State. How Truffles are Used in Cooking Used in Middle Eastern, French, Italian, Greek, and Spanish dishes, truffles are grated or scraped into soups and sauces or onto entrees before the food is served. Chefs prepare chicken, fish, omelettes, soufflï¿½s, and rice and pasta dishes with the aromatic shavings. Tagliatelle With Summer Truffle Black and white varieties of truffles are notably high in amino acids and protein, which makes them a favorite indulgence among well-heeled vegetarians. The non-fattening delicacy contains iron and is a significant source of fiber and carbs too. To fully enjoy a truffle, you should eat it uncooked right after it is harvested.

Because the flavor subsides quickly, time is of the essence when youï¿½re savoring the tuber-type mushroom. Ravioli With Herbs and Sliced Truffle White truffles should never be cooked as the heat will cause them to quickly lose their taste. However, you can lightly sautï¿½ slices of black truffles and insert them into meats. Truffle Trivia Truffles are categorized according to their taste, smell, and appearance with many fungi classified by location. Italian white truffles notably have the strongest smell and range from a walnut to a small red potato in size. If not eaten immediately, the aroma and taste will dissipate after a couple weeks. Veal Filet Mignon with Truffle Mash When they are harvested, truffles are found about a foot beneath the ground, with the mycelia, or vegetative part of the fungus, appearing close to the roots of a tree. Reproduction occurs when animals eat the prized tubers and scatter the spores.

Truffle Hunting: Using Hogs and Dogs Female hogs are often used for truffle hunting activities in France as the odor of a mature truffle smells much like the pheromones that are produced in a boarï¿½s saliva. Therefore, if youï¿½re not careful, a truffle-hunting sow can quickly gobble up the mushroom once it is found. Pigs are often hard to control once they catch a whiff of the scent. Truffle Hunting in Tuscany's Maremma As a result, some truffle hunters prefer to use dogs to hunt for truffles instead. Unlike a hog, dogs do not have the same capacity to detect a truffleï¿½s scent. However, they can still be trained for the task. Plus, they can also be taught not to eat up your truffle profits during the process. The Lagotto Romagnolo: A Well-recognized Truffle Hunter The Lagotto Romagnolo is well-recognized for the truffle-hunting role. A rare breed, the medium-sized dog hails from Italy. The working canine features a curly, dense coat and comes in a range of tones and shades, including white, brown, tan, and black.

The following video profiles the Lagotto Romagnolo and shows the breed at work hunting for truffles. Dogs that are Trained for Search-and-Rescue Activities are Often Good Truffle Hunters While the Lagotto Romagnolo is indisputably the best dog to use to hunt truffles, a number of dogs can use their keen sense of smell to find the underground fungi too. The same attributes that make a dog helpful in search-and-rescue activities will enable him to sniff out and find the treasured mushrooms. Therefore,dog breeds that are quick learners in this regard are German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, and the Belgian shepherd dog. The Dachshund and Miniature Poodle have proven to be reliable in hunting truffles too. In some cases, hunting or sporting dogs are used for truffle hunting activities. However, the scent of prey may make them less focused in the pursuit. It just depends on the temperament of the animal. Teaching a Dog to Hunt Truffles To train a dog to truffle hunt, wave a piece of strong-smelling cheese under the dogï¿½s nose.

Italian blue cheese is a good choice for this purpose as its smell is very close to that of a truffleï¿½s scent. Condition the dog to the activity by burying the cheese in the ground. Once he finds the food, reward him with another treat. Next, introduce a very small truffle along with the cheese to your dog and bury both the cheese and truffle together. Once he finds the two pieces of food, start training him with just the truffle. When he becomes acclimated to the routine, youï¿½re ready to take him out to scout for buried treasure. The most propitious time for truffle hunting is when the ground is moist and warm, or about two weeks after a rain. Truffles are primarily found under pines, firs, birch trees, beeches, oaks, and hickory trees. They can also be located in shaded spots where chipmunks or squirrels have dug. Once the dog discovers the delicacy, examine it closely and slightly squeeze it. The hue of the fungus should be lighter rather than darker and its surface should be relatively smooth. Discard any finds that do not meet this description, or which are not soft or uniform.

The following video features a truffle hunt in Western Australia using dogs: Pigs Pigs Pigs All about pigs Despite their dirty reputation, pork is still one of the more popular forms of meat. Pigs were domesticated from the wild boar between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean; it is also possible that boars were also independently domesticated in China. Ironically, despite their history in the Middle East, pork is forbidden in Judaism, Islam and some orthodox Christian sects. Many Buddhists and Hindus also do not eat pork, though this is due more to their vegetarianism rather than a particular doctrine against pork. Pigs are not picky eaters and are thus fed a wide range of foods . They are often fed surplus crops and food byproducts that humans don’t or can’t eat. Pigs are raised both by individuals and on an industrial scale, and their housing depends upon the climate of the region. In warmer locales, they can usually be outside all year long; in the cold climate of the United Kingdom, they are often housed in specialized indoor pig farms during the winter.

People rarely think of pigs being used for any other purpose other than their meat , but pigs sometimes have secondary jobs. In France, some pigs are trained to find black truffles, a delicious yet notoriously difficult delicacy to find. Some rural societies have “garbage pigs,” which scavenge the scraps of the town. This scavenging cleans up the town and allows them to later slaughter and use the pig’s meat with minimal investment in feed. In addition, pig parts are used to make all sort of things. Pig heart valves are even used as replacement for failing heart valves in humans. For more information on the many products that come from pigs, click here . Truffles | Truffle Dog Company Truffle Dog Company Contact Truffles Often called diamonds of the culinary world, truffles are edible fungi that grow underground, and are considered to be a delicacy because of their intense and unique characteristics and aromas. Truffles are often shaved on top of food prior to serving, but they also are used to infuse flavors into dishes. Along with caviar, saffron, and matsutake mushrooms, truffles are considered one of the most highly sought after, rare, and expensive foods in the world. What is a truffle?

Truffles are the fruiting bodies (spore-bearing mechanisms) of underground mushrooms. The actual fungus from which the truffles grow are formed by an underground network of mycelium in a symbiotic relationship with a host plant. This mutually beneficial arrangement occurs when the fungal mycelium and the root cells of the plant grow together to create mycorrhizae. The plant provides sugars to the fungus through photosynthesis, and the fungus provides the plant with minerals, water, and other nutrients from the soil that it could not get by itself. Why do truffles smell? Unlike mushrooms above ground, truffles rely entirely on animals to eat them as a means of spore dispersal. That is how truffle fungi spread and reproduce. And how do they do that exactly? Well, by smelling good of course! As truffles mature they develop odors and send off gasses and pheromones that signal to the surrounding wildlife that there is something tasty hidden under the soil. We like to eat them for the same reasons a chipmunk might. Are there many types of truffles? Yes. There are many species of truffles, however, only a handful are of commercial culinary value and taste very good. Where do truffles grow?

Truffles are found all over the world and are usually associated with certain families of trees such as Pine, Oak, Hazelnut and Willow; although almost any tree can form mycorrhizae with truffle forming fungi of some kind. Depending on the species of truffle and environmental conditions they can be found erupting through the soil or up to 12 inches (or more!) underground. In the Pacific Northwest region of North America, three of the commercial culinary varieties of truffles grow in association with Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in coastal forests and timber stands. The main growing season for commercial culinary species in the Pacific Northwest is winter through spring. Different species of truffles, such as some of those in Europe will be ripe at different times of the year. How do you harvest truffles? As truffles are usually found underground, you have to have a way to gather them! This is where detection animals come into play because of their superior olfactory capabilities. Traditionally in Europe truffles were harvested by female pigs because the volatile compounds ripe truffles release are similar to pheromones emitted from a male pig.

These days however dogs are used because while they have to be trained, they do not eat the truffles as readily and are much easier to manage. A 400 lb pig is slightly more cumbersome than a 40 lb dog! Sadly, in the United States, truffles are also harvested using rakes which can be detrimental to the environment and the domestic truffle economy. What’s the deal with pigs? Pigs naturally forage and rout (dig for food) in the ground with their snouts and are keen lovers of truffles themselves and will happily gobble them up if not trained to eat something else as a reward. Pigs were traditionally used in Europe to hunt for truffles because they can detect truffles at great depths, and required little to no training. In some locations using sows is still the preferred method, however the popularity and ease of use of hunting with dogs has taken precedence over the last century. What is raking? Raking for truffles is the act of raking the soil of a forest to expose truffles, and then collecting them. This method, used regularly for scientific collections, often yields unripe and immature specimens which may not be suitable for culinary use.

Destructive or aggressive raking damages the ecosystem from which the truffles are removed and also negatively impacts the truffle economy, devauling the quality and reputation of the truffles. Raking can damage other unripe truffles that are not harvested by dislodging them from the support network with their host trees and thus ending their maturation process. Why use dogs? Why not, we say! Properly utilizing dogs (or pigs) for locating truffles is more gentle on the environment (and we think more fun!). Unripe truffles lack odor, and therefore don’t have much culinary value. Using dogs allows us to find only the ripe truffles with their amazing aromatics, thus preserving and ensuring optimum culinary value. Dogs also pinpoint the location of ripe truffles and thus less of the environment and fragile duff layer of the soil is disturbed when collecting. For many of us dogs are also part of our daily lives, and live with us as pets. Dogs have amazing olfactory capabilities that far exceed our own, and most dogs thoroughly enjoy scent games. Truffle hunting with dogs is a natural and fun way to enjoy working and playing with your canine family member. Can any dog find truffles?

We like to say that almost any dog, and any breed, with the right training, can be trained to find truffles. It is more about individual personality and how you work together as a team. You don’t have to have a Lagotto Romagnolo (the traditional Italian truffle hunting breed) in order to be able to train your dog for truffle hunting. No breed, or mixture thereof, is off limits. We have trained or worked with Chihuahuas, Corgis, German Shepherds, Labs, Spaniels, Cattle Dogs, Newfoundlands, American Staffordshire Terriers, Great Danes, French Bulldogs, and the list goes on. Most dogs thoroughly enjoy hunting for truffles because we make it a game! Can dogs who find truffles also be trained to find other mushrooms? You bet! You can train a dog to find just about anything. The process is fairly similar when teaching your canine to hunt for other mushrooms. We have trained dogs to find matsutake, morels, chanterelles, and other species. Can I grow truffles? Growing truffles reliably is still considered experimental farming to a degree, but there have been many new advances in scientific methods and theory in the pastdecade.

Depending on where you live or want to grow truffles and on what scale, there are scientists andconsultants available to aid you in your endeavors. Truffles grow in association with trees, and in order to grow truffles you need inoculated seedlings. It is a complex science, but there are some folks who are trying, some with success! Why are truffles so expensive? Different species of truffles will fetch a range of prices at market and price fluctuates depending on a variety of factors. The most expensive species, the “Alba white truffle” (Tuber magnatum) can reach upwards of $2,500/ lb. Truffles are rare, and are notoriously difficult to detect even with the aid of detector animals. This adds not only to the allure, but increases the value. This is one of the reasons truffles are so valuable; they are considered a wild food. What is truffle oil? Truffle oil traditionally is made from submerging truffles in olive oil. The oil will tatse different depending on the variety of truffle used, and the variety of olive oil, or grape seed oil used. Doing this draws the essence of the truffles out and into the oil.

Some who sell truffle oil actually do not use truffles at all and instead inject a chemical compound 2,4 dithiapentane into the oil to produce a similar one dimensional flavor at reduced cost.

Question: Which delicacy are pigs often used to locate?
Answer: Truffles